YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Elantra Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 32 Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 11% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles. A related recall (24V146000) covers a faulty trunk latch.

Structure & Body complaints
32
11% of 292
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
65,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Trunk latch fails to open or lock, leaving the trunk unable to close securely and sometimes popping open while driving.
  • Body paint peels off the rear spoiler, bumper, and door handle area well before expected.
  • Power door locks intermittently unlock and lock on their own, triggering the door-ajar warning light even though doors are closed.
  • Owners report the vehicle body crushed significantly in a low-speed collision compared to other vehicles involved.
  • Some owners report a front axle shake on the driver side severe enough to affect steering control.

When 2016 Hyundai Elantra body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 21, 2017, latest Jun 14, 2026.

2016 Hyundai Elantra structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2017Feb 2021Oct 2021Oct 2022Nov 2023Jun 2024Jun 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Apr 2024 (3).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra

  1. NHTSA 24V146000Feb 23, 2024Structure & Body186,588 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

    Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 256.

Structure & Body complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201026 (7%)
  2. 20116 (1%)
  3. 201218 (3%)
  4. 201356 (4%)
  5. 201410 (3%)
  6. 201515 (6%)
  7. 201632 (11%)
  8. 2017186 (24%)
  9. 201817 (6%)
  10. 20195 (2%)
  11. 20208 (3%)
  12. 20214 (3%)
  13. 20222 (2%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 20242 (4%)
  16. 20251 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have a trunk latch recall?
Yes. Recall 24V146000 covers 2015-2016 Elantra models where the trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the trunk from opening from inside. Dealers replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly free of charge.
How common are body and structure complaints for the 2016 Elantra?
NHTSA lists 32 Structure & Body complaints for the 2016 Elantra, making up 11% of the 292 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2016 Elantra is 65,000 miles.
Is paint peeling a known issue on the 2016 Elantra?
Owners report paint peeling on areas such as the rear spoiler, bumper, and door handle within the sample complaints, though this is not tied to any listed recall.
How does the 2016 Elantra compare to other years for this problem area?
The 2016 model year's 11% share of complaints in this area is lower than the 2017 Elantra's 24% share, but higher than several other model years like 2011 (1%) and 2019 (2%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.